Fluorescent light fixture



1965 D. J. DI LELLO ETAL 3,198,942

FLUORESCENT LIGHT FIXTURE Filed April 5, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I6 v, I

I 32 36 39 40 INVENTORISI DOMINICK J. DILELLO BY CORNELIUS J. YOUNG 02,4 4.2M v ATTORNEKS' 3, 1965 D. J. DI LELLO ETAL 3,198,942

FLUORESCENT LIGHT FIXTURE Filed April 5, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORJ' DOMINICK J. DILELLO BY CORNELIUS J. YOUNG A TTORNEYJ' g- 1965 D. J. DI LELLO ETAL 3,198,942

FLUORESCENT LIGHT FIXTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 5, 1963 INvENToRS nommcx J. DILELLO BY CORNELIUS J. YOUNG M 11 J M A TTORNE Y6 3,198,942 a FLUORESCENT LIGHT FIXTURE Dominick J. Di Lello, South Plainfield, N.J., and Cornelius J. Young, 9 Condit Road, Mountain Lakes, N.J.; said Di Lello assignor to said Young Filed Apr. 5, 1963, Ser. No. 270,834

6 Ciaims. (Cl. 240-25) This invention relates generally to fluorescent outdoor lighting fixtures of the cantilever suspension type and more particularly to the specific construction of such units to render them more suitable to cantilever suspension.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved, simplified interior frame construction for a fluorescent lighting fixture to perform the dual function of supporting the ballast units for the fixture and adapt the fixture generally to sturdy cantilever support on a standard.

Another and important object of this invention; is to provide an improved, outdoor fluorescent lighting fixture of the cantilever type in which the overall construction is such as to assist in directing the emitted light generally outward and away from a supported position on a standard to area where a concentration of illumination is desired.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide an improved and simplified structure for mounting a ballast in heat conducting relationship with; the outer casing of a fluorescent lighting fixture.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved interior frame including dual spaced channels and rigidly interconnected end members for generally supporting an entire outdoor fluorescent lighting fixture' Another object of this invention is to provide an improved outdoor fluorescent lighting fixture suitable to cantilever support on a standard wherein to obtain an outward spread of emitted light away from the standard,

the fixture tubes, casing and reflector are in generally agreeing, deviating angular relationship to the longitudinal axis of the fixture.

With the foregoing and otherobjects in view the invention resides in the following specification and'appended claims, certain embodiments and details of. construction being illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a pictorial representation of the fixture, of this invention illustrating how the emitted light is ca'st generally outwardly and away from a'supporting standard;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the fixture embodying the invention; 7

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section taken along the lines 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section view taken along the-lines 4-4 of FIG. 2;

ciple of the inventivelight'emitting characteristics of a fixture mounted on a suitable standard 11 is illustrated as laying down an increasing outwardly pattern 12 of I illumination between the pumps 13 and the building 14 of an ordinary gas station.

Since illumination is desired a primarily in the workable areas only of gas stations, parking lots and the like, it is 'desirableto' concentrate the light emitted from a fixturein such a manner that it is directed away from non-working areas such as touthe left of the standard 11 in FIGURE 1. The fixture-10 of this invention .is particularly adaptable to cantilever mounting ona standard in the manner illustrated, and embodies various desirable features including compactness, rugged construction, unique ballast mounting and heat dissipation, reduced costs over priorsomewhat similarly used'units, and primarily improved light directing abilities in connection with as many as six fluorescent tubes in the structure. 1 v

The fixture 10 which is shownin detail in FIGS. 2 to 6 includes a sheet metal outer casing 15 including a top wall 16, sidewalls 16,and 17 andend walls 18 and 19. The

' wall 18 is shorter than the wall 19, and the side walls 16 and 17 therefore are tapered or fanned-out between the a second heavy, rigid plate 24 is provided Wall 18 is perforated at Hand 26 to receive clamping bolts 27 and 28, respectively. Bolts 27 and 28 are preferably threaded into nuts Hand 30 whichare secured as'by welding to the interior surface of the plate 22. Extending outwardly and longitudinally of the fixture and being connected by welding to' plate 24 is a slip fit coupling member 31 which may be slipped over the endof a carrying standard for the fixture and be bolted or otherwise secured thereto.

' While the casing 15 may be of light gauge steel,- aluminum or the like, the cantilever frame parts including'the channel members 20 and -21, the interior and exterior plates'22, 23 and 24 and the coupling 31 are preferably formed from a heavy gauge steel. The entire weight of the fixture parts is carried by this simplified but rugged frame FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, partially sectioned view of the I cantilever frame and ballast support construction embodying the invention; FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, explodedperspec tive view illustrating the manner of mounting a ballastv unit in the fixture, and v V 7 FIG. 7 is a modified form illustrating the cantilever frame and ballast support portions ofthe fixture in a rectangular casing. I

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the prin-' The casing end walls 18 and 19 may be and '23 in any suitable manner,

construction. secured to the plates 22 not illustrated.

' Disposed within the casing 15 and supported on in-" turned lips 32 and 33 of side walls 16 and 17 respectively in a reflector member 34. The reflector 34 is formed with an'upwardly facing pocket 35 of substantially --oastant transverse dimensionand contour between the end walls of the fixture. To either side of the pocket35 the reflector 34 is providedwith channels 36 and '37 which open downwardly and which accommodate a plurality of fluorescent tubes 38, six as'illustra-ted. Suitable tube re-.

properly accomplish this,'it is'merely necessary to space the sockets adjacent the'shorter end wall 18 closer to ge-ther than those sockets adjacent the longer end wall 19.

A framed glass or other transparent material cover-40 extends between the lips 32 and33. The cover may be Patented Aug. 3, 1.965

secured to the lip portion of the casing 15 by any suitable means, not shown.

Positioned between the channels 20 and 21 in heat contact dissipating relationship with the top wall 16 are ballast units 41 and 42. Dependingupon the fixture one or more such units may be required. In noting the ballast 41 in FIG. 4 it will be observed that the vertical dimension extends to some extent, the amount again depending on fixture and ballast size and ratings, into the reflector.

pocket 35. From an overall fixture thickness standpoint the spaced channel frame and reflector construction provide an improved arrangement. for accommodating the ballast in the most suitable manner for cantilever fixture suspension without requiring an increase in fixture thickness. Keeping in mind that from an appearance, materials and wind standpoint, itis most desirable to build a fixture of this type as flat as possible. In this construction then, the reflector pocket accommodates the depending, ballast, the ballast unit is centered with respect to the cantilever frame, heat dissipation is achieved through the top wall, and the compact nature of the fixture is preserved.

Referring particularly to FIG. 6 the precise manner of mounting a ballast unit is illustrated. The ballast 41 is provided with integral lips or tongues 43 and 44 ('FIGS. and 6). provided for each ballast with each bracket including outer arms 47 and 48 and an offset bridging portion 49. Each portion 49 of bracket includes a vertically depending slotted flange 50. The slots 51 are, just sufficiently sized to accommodate the tongues 43 and 44 of ballast 41. Each of the arms 47 and 48 is provided with punched holes 52 which will receive attachment screws 53. Channels 20 and 21 include tapped openings 55 and 54 respectively to receive screws 53 during assembly. When a ballast 41 is about to be installed in a fixture 16, the

slotted flanges of a pair of brackets are slipped over the tongues 43 and 44 of the ballast, the parts of the assembly being held in position between channels 20 and 21, with ballast 41 in contact with the wall 16, until the screws 53 are driven home. Upon securement of the screws, the ballast 41 is suspended between the flanges 50 of the spaced brackets, and lateral movement of the ballast is prevented by the side walls of the slots 51. Thus to change a ballast, it is merely necessary to remove one bracket from its attachment to channels 20 and 21. The mounting carries the weight of the ballast in alignment with the cantilever frame and hence no torque is imparted to the fixture generally.

In FIG. 7 a modified form of casing 52, rectangular in design, is utilized, but otherwise the cantilever frame, ballast mounting arrangement and reflector construction are substantially the same as in the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 1-6. In certain cases the rectangular frame is called for, but the tapered frame offers the same light directing features and structural stability with the use of less casing and framing material.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A fluorescent lighting fixture for cantilever mounting at one end to a supporting standard comprising a cas- ,ing including interconnected, spaced end and side walls and a top wall, a cantilever frame including a pair of spaced channel members secured at each end to first, interior rigid plate members, said casing enclosing said frame .and being ,spcured thereby by fastening means A pair of mounting brackets and 46 is between said end walls and said plates, one or more ballast units, means connected to the channel members to mount said ballast units between said channel members in heat conducting, contact relationship with the top wall of the casing, a second rigid plate exterior to one said end Wall and being inconnected through said Wall with one interior plate member, coupling means rigidly connected with the exterior plate whereby to adapt the fixture to cantilever mounting on a supporting standard, a reflector carried by and within the casing, said reflector having a central, upwardly facing pocket enclosing the spaced channel members of the cantilever frame and said ballast units, and two downwardly facing, open channels, one to either side of said pocket, and wherein a plurality of tube socket means are provided at each end of each reflector channel whereby to support a plurality of fluorescent tubes in each said reflector channel.

2. A fluorescent lighting fixture for cantilever mounting at one end to a supporting standard comprising a casing including interconnected, spaced end and side walls and a top wall, a cantilever frame including a pair of spaced channel members secured at each end to first, interior rigid plate members, said casing enclosing said frame and being secured thereto by fastening means between said end walls and said plates, one or more ballast units, means connected to the channel members to mount said ballast units between said channel members in heat conducting, contact relationship with the top wall of the casing, a second rigid plate exterior to one said end wall and being interconnected through said wall with one interior plate member, coupling means rigidly connected with the exterior plate whereby to adapt the fixture to cantilever mounting on a supporting standard, said casing end walls being of different lengths with said coupling means being secured to the shorter of said end walls, whereby said spaced side walls taper outwardly from their connection with the shorter end wall to their connection with the longer end wall, a reflector carried by and within the casing walls, said reflector having a central, upwardly facing pocket enclosing the spaced channel members of the cantilever frame and the ballast units, and two downwardly facing, open channels, one to either side of said pocket, said pocket being of constant transverse dimension between the end walls of the fixture and said channels being of constantly increasing transverse dimension from the shorter to the longer end wall of the casing.

3. The invention according to claim 2 wherein a plurality of tube socket means are provided at each end of each reflector channel whereby to support a plurality of fluorescent tubes in each said reflector channel in a fanned-out manner.

4. A fluorescent lighting fixture for cantilever mounting at one end to a supporting standard comprising a casing including interconnected, spaced end and side walls and a top wall, a cantilever frame including a pair of spaced channel members secured at each end to first interior rigid plate members, said casing enclosing said frame and being secured thereto by fastening means between said end walls and said plates, one or more ballast units, each ballast unit including an integral, longitudinally extending projection thereon, a pair of mounting brackets for each ballast unit, each bracket including a pair of spaced arms for attachment to the spaced channel members and an intermediate, integral, offset portion with an upstanding flange having a slot therein, each ballast unit projection entering a slot in a bracket whereby each ballast will be supported in fixed relationship between a spaced pair of said brackets and between said frame channels and in heat conducting, contact relationship with the top wall of said casing.

5. In a fluorescent lighting fixture including an outer bracket including a pair of spaced arms for attachment to the spaced channel members and an intermediate, integral oll'set portion with an upstanding flange having a lot therein. each of the ballast unit projections extending into a slot of a bracket whereby upon attachment of said spaced arms to said spaced channel members, a pair of said brackets will fixedly support a ballast unit between the channels and in heat conducting, contact relationship with the outer casing.

6. A fluorescent lighting fixture for cantilever mounting at one end to a supporting standard comprising a casing including interconnected, spacexi end and side walls and a top wall, said end walls being of dillerent lengths with a coupling meam being secured to the shorter of said end walls. whereby said spaced side walls taper outwardly from their connection with the short end wall to their connection with the longer of said end walls a cantilever frame including a pair of spaced channel members secured at each end to first. interior rigid plate members. said Casing enclming mid frame and being secured thereto by fastening meant between said end wall! and said plates. a second rigid plate exterior to said shorter end wall and being rigidly interconnected through said wall with one interior plate member, coupling means rigidly connected with the exterior plate whereby to adapt the fixture to cantilever mounting on a supporting standard, a reflector carried by and within said casing, said reflector having a central, upwardly facing pocket enclosing the spaced channel members of the cantilever frame and two downwardly facing, open channels, one to either side of said pocket. said pocket being of constant transverse dimension between the end walls of the fixture, said channels being of constantly increasing transverse dimension from theshorter to the longer end walls of the casing. and a plurality of tube socket mcuns provided at each end of said reflector channel whereby to support a plurality of fluorescent tubes in each said reflector channel in a fannedout manner.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2.596.634 5/52 \Vince 2405l.ll 3.064.l23 11/62 Anderson et al. 240-45 3.065.333 ll/62 Spaulding et al. 2403 3,096,028 7/63 iiarling 240-25 NORTON ANSllER, Primary Examlner.

EVON C. DLUNK, Examiner. 

1. A FLUORESCENT LIGHTING FIXTURE FOR CANTILEVER MOUNTING AT ONE END TO A SUPPORTING STANDARD COMPRISING A CASING INCLUDING INTERCONNECTED, SPACED END AND SIDE WALLS AND A TOP WALL, A CANTILEVER FRAME INCLUDING A PAIR OF SPACED CHANNEL MEMBERS SECURED AT EACH END TO FIRST, INTERIOR RIGID PLATE MEMBERS, SAID CASING ENCLOSING SAID FRAME AND BEING SECURED THEREBY BY FASTENING MEANS BETWEEN SAID END WALLS AND SAID PLATES, ONE OR MORE BALLAST UNITS, MEANS CONNECTED TO THE CHANNEL MEMBERS TO MOUNT SAID BALLAST UNITS BETWEEN SAID CHANNEL MEMBERS IN HEAT CONDUCTING, CONTACT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TOP WALL OF THE CASING, A SECOND RIGID PLATE EXTERIOR TO ONE SAID END WALL AND BEING INCONNECTED THROUGH SAID WALL WITH ONE INTERIOR PLATE MEMBER, COUPLING MEANS RIGIDLY CONNECTED WITH THE EXTERIOR PLATE WHEREBY TO ADAPT THE FIXTURE TO CANTILEVER MOUNTING ON A SUPPORTING STANDARD, A REFLECTOR CARRIED BY AND WITHIN THE CASING, AID REFLECTOR HAVING A CENTRAL, UPWARDLY FACING POCKET ENCLOSING THE SPACED CHANNEL MEMBERS OF THE CANTILEVER FRAME AND SAID BALLAST UNITS, AND TWO DOWNWARDLY FACING, OPEN CHANNELS, ONE TO EITHER SIDE OF SAID POCKET, AND WHEREIN A PLURALITY OF TUBE SOCKET MEANS ARE PROVIDED AT EACH END OF EACH REFLECTOR CHANNEL WHEREBY TO SUPPORT A PLURALITY OF FLUORESCENT TUBES IN EACH SAID REFLECTOR CHANNEL. 